Bernie Guerin, whose daughter was shot dead by gangland criminals in Dublin in 1996, said she was honoured to attend the awarding of the Veronica Guerin Memorial Scholarship -- which was set up in 2007 and is sponsored by Independent News and Media -- at Dublin City University yesterday.

"I know Veronica would be delighted," Mrs Guerin said as the scholarship went to DCU journalism masters student Deborah Naylor (25), from Ballina, Co Mayo.

Mrs Guerin said she now felt "more than ever" it was an important time for investigative journalists, especially in the wake of attacks on reporters in the Syrian city of Homs and the killing of 'Sunday Times' veteran war correspondent Marie Colvin last week.

"My sympathy goes out worldwide to the journalists who have lost their lives and I have written to the families over the years," Mrs Guerin said.

Ms Naylor plans to make a radio documentary on parents who have lost children to suicide.

Veronica Guerin was an investigative reporter at the 'Sunday Independent' and worked on a series of stories on the drug trade in Dublin before she was killed.